Provided by Maggie Glezer
Categories Bread Bake Sukkot Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur Kosher
Yield Makes two 15-ounce (430-gram) challahs, one 1 1/2-pound (680-gram)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Mixing the yeast slurry
- In a large bowl, whisk together the yeast and 1/4 cup (30 grams/1.1 ounces) of the flour, then whisk in the warm water until smooth. Let the yeast slurry stand uncovered for 10 to 20 minutes, or until it begins to ferment and puff up slightly.
- Mixing the dough
- Whisk the 3 eggs, salt, oil, and honey (measure the oil first, then use the same cup for measuring the honey - the oil will coat the cup and let the honey just slip right out) or sugar into the puffed yeast slurry until the eggs are well incorporated and the salt has dissolved. With your hands or a wooden spoon, stir in the remaining 3 1/4 cups (445 grams/15.7 ounces) flour all at once. When the mixture is a shaggy ball, scrape it out onto your work surface and knead it until smooth, no more than 5 minutes. (Soak the mixing bowl in hot water now to clean and warm it for fermenting the dough.) This dough is very firm and should feel almost like modeling clay. If the dough is too firm to knead easily, add a tablespoon or two of water to it; if it seems too wet, add a few tablespoons flour.
- The dough should feel smooth and very firm but be easy to knead.
- Fermenting the dough
- Place the dough in the warm cleaned bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. (Or, the dough can be refrigerated right after kneading, them removed from the refrigerator to finish fermenting up to 24 hours later.) Let the dough ferment until it has at least doubled in bulk, about 2 hours, depending on the temperature in your kitchen. (If the dough has been refrigerated, it may take an extra 30 to 60 minutes to ferment.)
- Shaping and proofing the dough
- Line one or two large baking sheets, depending on how many breads you are making, with parchment paper or oil them. Divide the dough into two 15-ounce(430-gram) portions for loaves, one 1 1/2 pound (680-gram) portion for a large loaf and three small pieces for rolls (the easiest way to do this without a scale is to divide the dough into quarters and use one quarter for the rolls and the rest for the large loaf), or fourteen 2-ounce (60-gram) portions for rolls. To make a New Year's spiral*, roll each portion into a long, even strand, preferably sheeting it out first.
- For each portion:
- For a flat spiral, make a very loose spiral of dough on the prepared sheet, starting at the center and winding the dough around, leaving space between the loops, and tuck the end of the strand under.
- For a high-rising spiral, wind the dough tightly around on the prepared sheet, without leaving any space between the loops, and be sure that the last loop is bound with a bit of tension. This will force the dough to rise in the center as it is proofing and especially during the oven rise.
- If you would like to make the bird's head, before making a long strand, pull off and shape a small round from the dough. Set the round on the spiral, using a little water to help it stick. When the dough is fully proofed, pinch out a beak shape and use your finger to push in dimples for eyes, or use raisins or currants for the eyes.
- Cover the loaves well with plastic wrap. (At this point, they can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.) Let them proof until tripled in size, about 2 hours (or up to 3 hours if the loaves were refrigerated).
- Meanwhile, 30 minutes before baking, arrange the oven racks in the lower and upper third portions if using two baking sheets, or arrange one rack in the upper third position if using one sheet, and remove any racks above them. Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C/gas mark 3). If desired, you can preheat one or two baking sheets to double with the baking sheet(s) the loaves are in. Beat the remaining egg with a pinch of salt for glazing the breads.
- Baking the loaves
- When the loaves have tripled and do not push back when gently pressed with your finger but remain indented, brush them with the egg glaze. Bake rolls for about 15 to 20 minutes, the 15-ounce (430-gram) loaves for 25 to 35 minutes, or the 1 1/2-pound (680-gram) loaf for 35 to 45 minutes, until very well browned. After the first 20 minutes of baking, switch the loaves from front to back so that they brown evenly; if the large loaf is browning too quickly, tent it with foil. When the loaves are done, remove them from the oven and let cool on a rack.
- *According to the Encyclopedia Judaica, the New Year's spiral is a shape with a Ukranian origin, originally a bird shape with the center of the spiral culminating in a bird's head: "The bird's head symbolizes the phrase in Isaiah 31:5 'As birds hovering, so will the Lord of Hosts protect Jerusalem'" - which helps to explain why this spiral shape would be called a faigele, "little bird" in Yiddish.
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blenci nailbar
[email protected]This recipe is a waste of time. The challah didn't rise properly and it was very dense.
Ismam Zara
[email protected]I followed the recipe exactly, but my challah didn't turn out as good as I hoped. I'm not sure what went wrong.
Besong Ella Favour
[email protected]This challah is a bit dense for my taste, but it still has a good flavor.
Chidinma Arimah
[email protected]I've been making this challah for years and it's always a hit. It's the perfect bread for any occasion.
Arpana Pandit
[email protected]I'm not a big fan of challah, but this recipe changed my mind. It's so light and fluffy, and the flavor is amazing.
Asogwa Vivian
[email protected]This challah is so good! It's the perfect bread for sandwiches, toast, or just eating on its own.
Nadir Nadir
[email protected]This is the best challah recipe I've ever tried. It's easy to make and always turns out perfect.
Paul Mclean
[email protected]I made this challah for my family and they loved it! It was so soft and fluffy, and the flavor was amazing.
Learndra Wilson
[email protected]This recipe is a bit time-consuming, but it's worth the effort. The challah is absolutely delicious and perfect for a special occasion.
Aysha Ibrahim
[email protected]I've tried many challah recipes over the years, but this one is by far the best. The dough is so soft and easy to work with, and the flavor is incredible.
Joanne Wozniak
[email protected]This challah recipe is a keeper! It's easy to follow and produces a beautiful, golden-brown loaf that is perfect for any occasion.